Founded in 1999 by retired craftsmen from Japan’s Platinum Pen Company, Nakaya is a boutique pen maker committed to handcrafting and traditional Japanese artistic techniques. The company’s newest product, the Nakaya Venetian Moon, uses traditional maki-e lacquering techniques to render a scene of the canals of Venice at night. Nakaya’s artisans first apply a fine gold powder to create the background of the picture on the pen’s cap and barrel, and then use metal powders in different colors to add detail. The re…

In 2004, the Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier inaugurated its partnership with the supercar manufacturer Bugatti by introducing the Bugatti Type 370, an avant-garde wristwatch with a horizontally oriented movement. In celebration of this decade-long relationship, Parmigiani has created three new limited-edition variations of that original watch, the first of which, the Bugatti Mythe, debuted recently.

Like the previous entries in the series, the movement powering the Mythe is horizontally oriented, with…

918 Spyder
Pure. Energy.

Some stories are told in just 6 minutes and 57 seconds. For this story, that is only the beginning. It starts with a hybrid – but one that had to be distinctively Porsche. And with intelligent technology. Our challenge is to move forward with confidence and take a new direction.

What do we need to achieve this? 918 drivers. 918 pioneers. To provide the initial spark and to reignite the old sports car dream. The 918 Spyder represents an entirely new look at the supercar. It heral…

The New York jewelry artist Monika Knutsson uses vintage circular lace to create her latest jewelry designs. The Swedish-born designer searches for antique fabrics in New York, Paris, and Berlin, culling lace from vintage dresses, petticoats, and linens. After cutting and shaping each piece at her studio, Knutsson then dips the lace in sterling silver, 24-karat gold, or rose gold. For some pieces, she adds delicate pearls, striking geodes, or semiprecious stones. Each jewelry piece comes with a description det…

The debut Magnum Marine’s Magnum 51 powerboat will be shown October 30 through November 3 at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Delivered to its owners this summer, the first example of the 51-foot Magnum 51 line is equipped with new environmentally friendly features that allow the boat to perform just as exceptionally as its forebear (a 50-foot model) while dropping its fuel consumption to 100 gallons per hour.

Nicknamed “Bestia” (Italian for “beast”) for its impressive power, the Magnum 51 (star…

Aerion Supersonic in Reno, Nev., has been working for the last decade to develop a supersonic business jet, and now the aerospace giant Airbus has joined the team as a partner. Airbus said in September that it will provide a team of senior engineers to work with Aerion to help shepherd the design through the complex certification process. (The companies are currently working together in the initial stage of their engineering collaboration.) Robert Bass, chairman of Aerion, says that the partnership will help t…

The quaint Franschhoek country house Mont Rochelle gets a posh makeover.

Why Go: Richard Branson’s high-end hospitality arm Virgin Limited Edition has taken over a well-liked country-house hotel in South African wine country. Mont Rochelle already had going for it a great chef and a scenic hilltop location in Franschhoek—a haven of wine tours, fine food, and luxury resorts. But the decor was drab and a few areas needed updating. Enter Virgin, a chic hospitality collective of six resorts, one restaurant and …

On October 14, in celebration of the brand’s 75th year, the jewelry house Verdura will unveil a retrospective at the new gallery space adjacent to its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Called The Power of Style: Verdura at 75, the exhibition will include more than 200 vintage jewelry pieces by the company’s late founder, Duke Fulco di Verdura, as well as archival materials, a few of Verdura’s gouache jewelry designs, miniature paintings, and rare photos. Standout pieces from the exhibition include a…

The safari company andBeyond has debuted a pair of renovated lodges in two of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations. Located within a private concession adjoining Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, andBeyond Kichwa Tembo reopened in July with a new layout that maximizes the views of the savanna. The camp features a library and swimming pool as well as 40 renovated suites that are now outfitted with cypress floors and decor inspired by the local Maasai culture. Then in September, Botswana’s andBeyond Sa…

In 2012, Bacardi Limited launched the D’Ussé Cognac brand, whose spirits are produced at the famous Château de Cognac, which was founded in 1795 and is also the home of Baron Otard (another Bacardi-owned Cognac brand). D’Ussé debuted with a VSOP ($55) aged at least 4.5 years and recently launched its second variety, the D’Ussé XO ($230). Made from no less than 100 different eaux-de-vie aged from 10 to 30 years, the XO offers complexity but also a balance and refinement derived from the blending expertise that …